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The Blog

Today's PP is actually from one of my current LR projects for a suburban family of 5. After initially discussing a white sofa, we ended up going in a totally different direction when we visited the MGBW Atlanta showroom & my client fell in love with the Carrie (also a fave of mine).

Though not originally a fan of reupholstering any vintage furniture--she wasn't keen on the idea of using "pre-loved" pieces and couldn't see the benefit to not buying retail--I found a pair of a.m.a.z.i.n.g vintage Mad Hatter chairs at one of my favorite local shops that were to. die. for. and knew I wanted them for her project. Not only are the chairs gorgeous (she had her eye on a similar retail version), but I knew they'd be the perfect complement to the Carrie, so I took a bit of time to really explain the benefits of using vintage furniture and why I prefer it over retail, whenever possible, 99% of the time. After viewing a few of my past upholstery projects she decided to go with the Mad Hatter chairs which, of course, made me a very happy lady. One of the main reasons I'm always yelling from the hills about vintage pieces? You're better off getting something that's fully customizable and unique to you, if you're going to pay retail prices. For the same price or less you can essentially create something that did not exist until the idea popped up in your head. Now THAT's a benefit. Want to change the cushions on your sofa to feather down? Not a problem at an upholstery shop. Want to add/remove tufting on the chairs you love? Just say the word. Legs too dark/too light? It's nothin' but a thang to make the change. Dying for some nailhead trim on your favorite ottoman? No prob. When you source vintage furniture (and not just ANY pieces but great ones), the finish product is only limited by your imagination (remember how I rebuilt these chairs?)

Want to know what makes this pair so show-stopping? Most importantly, it's the shape. Chairs that have this scalloped, architectural back are not that easy to find and when you do, you normally have to deal with tufting or channeling on the back and the legs can be too curvy (like the cabriole legs on a Queen Anne chair). This pair is seriously perfect, and the sides/back were already done in coordinating fabrics so she could envision my idea--doing a print on the back & a solid on the front. The layout of her LR will allow her to use her chairs with the back facing the windows for a more neutral/basic look OR place her sofa in front of the window and have the backs of the chairs face the entrance to the room (main entrance to the house, really). I love both options because of the versatility...it's like getting 4 different chairs for the price of one. Can't beat that.

So back to the fabrics:

1. John Robshaw/Duralee: Safa/Bark (sofa pillows)

2. MGBW Carrie sofa swatch

3. JF: Status/63S5721(chair pillows)

4. Kravet: 30299-111 (back of chair)

5. Kravet: 32191-16 (front of chair)

6. Kravet 32330-116 (sofa pillows)

I love, love, love the John Robshaw animal print, it's so gorgeous on the backdrop of that deep blue velvet sofa. The other neutrals were selected to keep the room light and give a bit of versatility if she ever decides to change things down the line. The small linen diamond weave on the back of the chairs is a large enough print to catch your eye but not so large that it becomes "bossy". The multicolor velvet stripe pillows will sit in each chair and the plain oatmeal linen was a client request for the sofa, since I was adamant about the animal print. We're still back & forth on the rug but hope to have a decision made soon! Install will be in the next 1.5 weeks and you know how I hate to post non-professional pics but maayyybe I'll make an exception this time...we'll see.

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DAYKA ROBINSON

Being in alignment with your personal values is how you foster trust, self respect & personal integrity with yourself. And the only way to truly be in alignment is to make decisions that are in your BEST INTEREST, based on who you say you want to be. 